Niki Jabbour's Blog, page 61
February 27, 2019
Foliage plants for lead and supporting roles in the garden
Raise your hand if you think foliage is just as important as the flowers in your garden. Foliage plants don’t necessarily have to be the star of the show—some plants are destined for supporting roles—but others definitely have superstar potential. And, of course, not all leaves are green. There is a whole rainbow out there [&hellip
The post Foliage plants for lead and supporting roles in the garden appeared first on Savvy Gardening.
February 20, 2019
How far apart to plant tomatoes
Properly spaced tomato plants are likely to be healthier and produce a larger harvest than those that are overcrowded or too widely spaced. Tomato spacing depends on two factors; what types of tomatoes you’re growing and how you plan on supporting the plants. Once you have those key pieces of information, it’s easy to figure [&hellip
The post How far apart to plant tomatoes appeared first on Savvy Gardening.
February 15, 2019
DIY potting soil: 6 Homemade potting mix recipes for the home and garden
I’m a huge fan of container gardening, and I know I’m not alone. Urban and small-space gardening is on the rise, houseplants are strutting their stuff all over Instagram, and few people have the time and energy to dedicate to a large in-ground garden these days. But with hundreds of seedlings to start and over 50 [&hellip
The post DIY potting soil: 6 Homemade potting mix recipes for the home and garden appeared first on Savvy Gardening.
February 7, 2019
Brighten up dark areas of the garden with annual flowers for shade
I have a pretty sunny property, but there are a few little pockets that don’t see as much sun, if any. In these spots, I’ll pop in some annual flowers for shade to add little sprays of colour—a thin strip on the north side of my house; under a loose hedge of unmanicured cedars in [&hellip
The post Brighten up dark areas of the garden with annual flowers for shade appeared first on Savvy Gardening.
January 29, 2019
The easiest vegetables to grow in garden beds and containers
It’s a fact; certain crops are easier to grow. Maybe it’s because they’re faster to go from seed to harvest or maybe they’re bothered by fewer pests and diseases. Either way, new food gardeners or those with little time may want to stick to these below crops which I’ve found to be some of the [&hellip
The post The easiest vegetables to grow in garden beds and containers appeared first on Savvy Gardening.
January 23, 2019
Pruning blueberries: Step-by-step instructions
For backyard blueberry growers, winter means it’s time to break out the pruning shears and folding saw. Pruning blueberries is a task best performed yearly, when the plants are dormant. Closely tied to crop production, plant health, and fruit quality, pruning too aggressively – or not aggressively enough – impacts your blueberry’s performance. Reasons for [&hellip
The post Pruning blueberries: Step-by-step instructions appeared first on Savvy Gardening.
January 16, 2019
Raised bed designs for gardening: Tips, advice, and ideas
My first two raised beds were your standard rectangles anchored by 2x4s. My husband and I found the plan online and he surprised me by building them one weekend while I was away. They may have been simple, but they introduced me to all the benefits of gardening in raised beds. When it came time [&hellip
The post Raised bed designs for gardening: Tips, advice, and ideas appeared first on Savvy Gardening.
January 8, 2019
Growing tomatoes from seed: A step-by-step guide
Why start your own tomato seeds when you can pop into your local nursery and buy ready-to-plant seedlings? The biggest reason is variety! Your local nursery may have a dozen or so varieties of tomatoes, but growing your own tomatoes from seed allows you to choose from thousands of heirloom, hybrid, and open-pollinated varieties available [&hellip
The post Growing tomatoes from seed: A step-by-step guide appeared first on Savvy Gardening.
January 4, 2019
Houseplant fertilizer basics: How and when to feed houseplants
Being a houseplant parent can be confusing business! Unlike human babies, houseplants don’t cry when they’re hungry or uncomfortable. Instead, they respond to their environment in different, far more subtle, ways. Knowing when it’s time to feed houseplants is challenging stuff, even for long-time houseplant growers. Today, I’d like to review the basic ins and [&hellip
The post Houseplant fertilizer basics: How and when to feed houseplants appeared first on Savvy Gardening.
December 30, 2018
New plants for 2019 gardens
One of the perks of being a garden writer is I sometimes get to trial new plants and seeds a year before they appear in retail nurseries, garden centres, or catalogues. I may also spot a striking specimen in other trial gardens a year or two before they’re released, or watch someone in the plant world [&hellip
The post New plants for 2019 gardens appeared first on Savvy Gardening.
